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OUR  PERIODICALS 


OUR  LITERATURE 


ITS  STORY 


FROM  THE  BEGINNING 


BY 

LUCY  JAMESON  SCOTT 

{Mrs.  O.  IV.) 


PRICE  20  CENTS 


Published  by  the 

WOMAN’S  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 
METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

36  Bromfield  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 


‘  Back  of  the  loaf  is  the  snowy  flour, 

And  back  of  the  flour  the  mill, 

And  back  of  the  mill  is  the  wheat  and  the  shower, 
And  the  sun  and  the  Father’s  will.” 


—  Maltbie  D,  Babcock. 


HE  story  of  our  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary 


A  Society  is  a  serial,  whose  chapters  unfold  year 
after  year,  revealing  a  plot  that  is  nothing  less  than 
God’s  great  plan  for  the  redemption  of  the  “  Bride 
of  Christ”  from  the  pollution  of  heathenism.  This 
story,  so  varied  and  beautiful,  reveals  the  fact  that 
one  of  the  silent  but  most  potent  factors  for  good 
has  been  the  printed  page.  But  what  has  it  done 
during  all  these  years  for  the  Christian  and  heathen 
women  whose  lives  have  so  strangely  blent  in  the 
carrying  out  of  a  Divine  purpose  ?  What  has  been 
the  peculiar  mission  of  our  literature  ?  This  is 
what  should  be  known,  and  this  is  the  portion  of 
the  wonderful  continued  story  that  we  have  gath¬ 
ered  from  the  records  of  the  past  to  place  before 


you. 


®ut  Xiterature 


ITS  STORY  FROM  THE  BEGINNING 


Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Meth- 

(ji)  odist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  Boston,  Mass., 

March  23,  1869.  Hardly  were  its  officers  elected  before 

the  far-sighted  founders  said:  “We  must  have  a  paper ^ — an 

organ  through  which  the  needs  of  heathen 

An  Immediate  ’vvomen  mav  be  presented  to  the  women  of  our 
Need  ^ 

Church,”  In  those  days  such  a  venture  meant 

much  more  than  it  means  now,  but  the  responsibility  was 

assumed,  and,  three  months  after  the  organization  of  the 

Society,  began  the  remarkable  history  of  our  periodicals. 


PERIODICALS 

The  choice  of  an  editor  was  another  indication  of  provi¬ 
dential  watch  care.  The  one  woman  who  by  natural  and 
acquired  gifts,  social  position,  and  newly-awakened  missionary 
enthusiasm,  seemed  fitted  for  the  work  —  Mrs. 

The  First  WiPiam  F.  Warren  —  was  elected  editor, 

Editor 

and  in  June,  i86g,  the  first  number  of  the 
Heathen  Woman's  F^'iend  was  given  to  the  public.  It  was  an 
eight-page  monthly  paper,  with  a  subscription  price  of  thirty 


6 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


cents,  and  the  first  year  gained  4,000  subscribers.  Its  aim,  as 
set  forth  in  the  first  number,  was  as  follows :  “  It  is  proposed 

by  our  Executive  Committee  to  issue  a  monthly  paper  contain¬ 
ing  the  latest  intelligence  from  our  missions,  with  contributions 
respecting  the  claims,  methods,  and  progress  of  our  work 
among  the  heathen  women.  The  design  is  to  furnish  just 
such  a  paper  as  will  be  read  with  interest  by  all  friends  of  the 
cause,  and  which  will  assist  in  enlisting  the  sympathies  of  the 
children,  and  educate  them  more  fully  in  missionary  work.” 

Contrary  to  all  expectation,  the  new  venture  paid  for  itself 
the  first  year,  and  its  size  was  increased  to  twelve  pages.  In 
1871  it  registered  iwenty-one  thousand  subscribers  !  This  year 
a  publishing  agent,  Mrs.  Lydia  H.  Daggett, 

Publishing  appointed  at  the  Executive  Committee 

Agent  Chosen  •  r-u-  ^  .u  • 

meeting  m  Chicago,  and  the  price  was  in¬ 
creased  to  thirty-five  cents.  The  July  number  contained  a  map 
of  India  missions,  prepared  by  Miss  Thoburn,  the  first  given  to 
our  Church.  The  Church  periodicals  had  become  aware  by 
this  time  of  the  existence  of  this  modest  paper,  which  was 
receiving  such  a  royal  welcome,  and  gave  it  unqualified 
support. 

At  the  beginning  of  its  third  year,  July,  1872,  four  more 
pages  were  added,  by  order  of  the  Executive  Committee  meet¬ 
ing  in  New  York,  making  it  a  sixteen-page  paper.  Its  first 
illustration  appeared  this  year^ — an  engraving 

Increasing  q£  Mission  House  and  Orphanage  at 

Success  i.  o 

Bareilly,  India.  The  site  of  the  Orphanage 

was  the  very  spot  where  Marla  —  first  Methodist  martyr  in 
India  —  was  slain  during  the  Sepoy  rebellion ;  hence  to  thou¬ 
sands  of  readers  the  engraving  was  a  picture  of  holy  ground. 
In  1874  the  list  of  subscribers  numbered  25,000  —  a  high- 
water  mark  —  causing  great  joy  at  the  Executive  session  held 
in  Philadelphia. 

The  following  year,  eight  pages  were  added  and  the 


PERIODICALS 


7 


Heathen  Woniaiis  Friend  became  a  twenty-four  page  paper,  at 
the  same  time  increasing  its  subscription  price  to  fifty  cents. 

This  year  also  appeared  a  “  Home  Depart- 
Helps  for  ment  ”,  in  which  the  Branches  —  seven  in  num- 

.rV  iixil  1 

ber  —  gave  their  reports,  and  for  which  the 
Branch  Corresponding  Secretaries  became  responsible.  This 
year  for  the  first  time  appeared  a  list  of  “Addresses,  Poems, 
Hymns  and  Music,  to  assist 
such  as  are  not  able  to  obtain 
speakers  for  auxiliary  and 
public  meetings  ”,  etc.  Most  of 
these  were  reprints  from  other 
Mission  Boards,  but  several 
were  original,  among  which  we 
note  “The  Best  Use  of  a  Dollar”, 
verses  written  by  Bishop 
Haven’s  sister.  Miss  Hannah 
Haven,  and  recited  with  telling 
effect  at  many  an  early  mission¬ 
ary  meeting.  In  1876  appeared 
Miss  Belle  Hart’s  “  Seven 
Reasons  why  I 
to  the  Woman’s 
Missionary  Society”,  —  a  con¬ 
vincing,  awakening,  “  mystical  seven  ”  —  a  leaflet  long  and 
widely  circulated  and  still  in  service. 

In  1873  “editorial  staff  ”  of  eight  women  was  appointed 
by  the  Executive  Committee  at  their  meeting  in  Cincinnati,  and 
this  “  staff  ”  or  “  contributors  ”,  as  they  were  called  later,  was  con¬ 
tinued  four  years.  In  1878,  at  the  Executive 
session  in  Boston,  the  Branch  Secretaries  were 
made  a  “  Standing  Committee  on  Publication  ” 
to  have  charge  of  the  paper.  Like  all  periodicals,  the  HeatJmi 
IVoinaiCs  Friend  was  subject  to  fluctuations  in  its  subscription 


should  belong 
F  oreign 


Miss  Belle  Hart 


Editorial 

Contributors 


8 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


list.  It  has  always  depended  upon  its  constituency  for  its  circula¬ 
tion,  and  they  have  also  been  subject  to  fluctuations.  But  it  was 
largely  owing  to  the  financial  depression  that  it 
A  Valley  j^-g  experience  in  1877,  ’78  and  ’79. 

In  the  last-named  year  it  “touched  the  earth 
with  only  1 3,46 1  subscribers,  but  like  the  fabled  giant  of  old,  who 
thus  renewed  his  strength,  it  began  again  from  this  point  its 
upward  progress.  It  was  in  the  Executive  session  of  1879,  in 
Chicago,  that  Bishop  Peck  made  his  oft-quoted  remark  i 
“  Why,  ladies,  don’t  you  know  that  this  is  the  best  little  paper 
in  all  the  world?  ”  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  there  was  a  period 
of  nearly  ten  years  —  from  1876,  when  the  old  Af/ssionapy 
Advocate  closed  its  career,  to  October,  1885,  when  the  Gospel 
in  All  Lands  was  adojDted  by  the  Missionary  Society  —  that 
this  “little  paper”  was  the  only  periodical  in  the  Church 
devoted  to  foreign  missions. 

The  Executive  Committee  of  1880  “resolved”  that  once 
each  quarter  the  names  and  addresses  of  missionaries  should 
appear  in  the  Friend ;  also  that  the  agent  should  send  copies 
gratuitously  to  our  missionaries  and  to  “  all  Methodist  colleges 
and  seminaries  where  ladies  are  admitted.” 

In  1882  Mrs.  Daggett  resigned  the  office  of  agent,  and  Miss 
Pauline  J.  Walden  was  elected.  As  the  ffnances  of  the  paper 
began  to  brighten,  a  series  of  demands  upon  its  coffers  was 
contemplated,  and  embodied  in  resolutions  at 
each  successive  Executive  session.  Were  leaf¬ 
lets,  reports,  certificates,  mite-boxes,  maps,  new 
periodicals,  travelling  expenses,  or  salaries  desired?  Nothing 
was  easier  than  for  each  “  new,  untutored  ”  Publication  Com¬ 
mittee  to  “  resolve  ”  that  they  be  furnished  “  from  the  surplus 
fund  of  the  Heathen  Woniapi's  Friend  Miss  Belle  Hart,  in 
her  appeal  to  the  membership,  January,  1890,  after  referring  to 
the  vast  amount  of  literary  supplies  already  provided  by  the 
Friend^  meets  the  subject  as  follows:  “  If  it  has  been  the 


A  Friend 
Indeed 


PERIODICALS 


9 


generous  mother  yielding  all  these  golden  eggs,  let  us  not  in 
our  greed  for  the  eggs  destroy  or  even  damage  the  parent 
for  this  treasury  is  burdened  —  overburdened^  But  it  has 
continued  to  be  the  “  generous  mother  ”,  for  in  twenty-four 
years  it  has  earned,  above  its  own  expenses,  and  paid  for  litera¬ 
ture,  German  Friend^  Childreii's  Frieiid^  Zenana  paper,  certifi- 
cates,  and  missionaries’  travelling  expenses,  the  almost  incred¬ 
ible  sum  of  $35,701.  In  1886  four  more  pages  were  added. 
June,  1889,  marked  a  significant  milestone,  and  after  reviewing 
the  financial  prosperity  of  the  paper,  the  editor 
says;  “All  along  through  the  twenty  volumes 
are  scattered  abundant  testimonies  to  the  help¬ 
fulness  in  spiriUial  life  which  many  have  found  in  these  pages,” 
So  this  faithful  “servant  of  all”  gathered  month  by  month,, 
year  after  year,  into  its  storehouse  supplies  which  were  indeed 
for  the  “  healing  of  the  nations.” 

Very  early  in  1893,  the 
Heathen  WoniaiCs  Friejid^  the 
Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  and  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  suffered  a 
great  loss  in  the  sudden  death 

A  Sad  and  Mrs.Warren. 

Sudden  Her  daughter. 

Change  Mrs. Mary  War¬ 

ren  Ayars,  was  asked  to  edit  the 
paper,  and  did  so  until  the  clos¬ 
ing  of  the  year,  resigning  at 
that  time.  During  her  term 
of  service  a  long-contemplafed 
change  was  made  in  the  form  of 
the  paper,  and  in  July,  1893,  it 
appeared  as  a  magazine.  At  the  General  Executive  session  in  St. 
Paul,  October,  1893,  Miss  Louise  Manning  Hodgkins  was  unan- 


10 


OUR  LITERATURE 


imously  elected  to  the  position  of  editor.  She  came  to  her  work 
fresh  and  resourceful  and  several  new  features  soon  appeared 
in  the  magazine.  As  1894  was  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of 
the  Society — the  silver  anniversary  —  the  March  Heathen 
Woman'' s  Friejid  was  a  special  number  with  pictures  of  the 
founders,  reminiscences  and  bits  of  history.  June,  the  month 
of  roses,  was  set  apart  for  the  Young  Woman’s  Number.  A 
magazine  fund  was  started,  which,  through  the  generous 
helpfulness  of  many,  has  continued  to  supply  most  of  our 
missionaries  with  the  popular  magazines.  Some  new  depart¬ 
ments  were  introduced  also  —  a  Post  Office  Box,  Family  News, 
What  is  Interesting  us.  Worth  Reading,  etc. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1895,  the  name  of  the  magazine  was 
changed.  Its  earlier  name  had  “become  objectionable  in  the 
minds  of  many,  both  in  this  land  and  in  the  foreign  field,”  and 


for  some  time  before  it  was  abandoned  a  grace¬ 
ful  design  of  festooned  vines  had  been  used  to 
soften  the  effect  of  the  unpopular  phrasing. 


Change  of 
Name 


Now,  however,  such  begging  of  the  question  ceased  and  with 
the  new  name,  Womaji's  Missionary  Friend^  began  a  new  and 
improved  edition  in  January,  1896. 

With  the  advent  of  the  kodak  in  mission  fields,  our  mission¬ 
aries  were  enabled  to  send  to  the  magazine  many  photographs, 
which  were  reproduced  for  its  pages,  adding  to  its  attractive¬ 
ness  and  educative  influence.  The  first  illus- 
Illustrations  tration,  already  alluded  to,  was  made  from  a 
fine  wood  cut,  at  an  expense  of  ^58.  This 
item  has  an  almost  dramatic  significance,  suggesting  not  only 
the  present  contrast  in  the  matter  of  expense,  but  also  the  long 
■career  of  the  Society’s  publication  interests. 

After  the  establishment  of  the  children’s  paper  in  1890.,  the 
Friefid  was  enabled  to  carry  out  the  expressed  desire  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  and  give  every  month  a  story  or  sketch, 
often  accompanied  by  bright  missionary  poems,  for  the  young 


THE  ZENANA  PAPER  II 

women’s  auxiliaries.  This  feature  was  greatly 

Young  Wom^n  became  extremely  popular. 

In  1902,  through  the  practical  enthusiasm 
of  Miss  Clara  Cushman,  formerly  missionary  in  North  China 
and  now  general  superintendent  of  our  young  woman’s  work, 
the  name  “  Standard  Bearers”  was  quite 
generally  accepted  for  young  people’s 
organizations,  and  a  page  of  the  Friend 
was  dedicated  to  their  service.  So, 
also,  the  Literature  Committee  was 
given  a  column  through  which  to  com-  standard  bkarer 

Ir^ENNANT 

municate  with  the  general  constituency. 

We  cannot  close  this  record  of  our  leading  periodical  with¬ 
out  speaking  of  its  dress.  For  several  years  the  magazine  was 
in  sober  browns,  but  in  July,  1896,  it  appeared 

in  a  most  becoming  suit  of  blue,  the  Society 
Appearance  ■  a  ■  ^  .  1  j 

color,  varied  m  later  years  by  pure  green  and 

white  for  Easter,  and  rose  color  for  June.  Its  present  beauti¬ 
ful  cover  design,  bearing  the  crest  of  the  Society,  was  assumed 
in  1903. 


THE  ZENANA  PAPER 

In  1883  the  Executive  Committee  met  in  Des  Moines  for  the 
fourteenth  annual  meeting.  A  notable  feature  was  the  subject 
brought  before  the  meeting  by  Rev.  Thomas  Craven,  a  mission- 
ary  from  India,  who  “  presented  a  paper  in 
Missionary’s  regard  to  the  necessity  of  illustrated  Christian 
literature  for  the  girls  and  women  of  India. 
He  stated  that  the  native  press  was  busy  scattering  an  impure 
literature  over  the  country,  which  was  not  fit  to  put  into  the 
hands  of  women  and  girls,  and  that  if  they  become  Christian¬ 
ized  thev  must  have  Christian  literature.” 


12 


O  U  K 


literature 


Other  missionaries  from  India  who  were  present  indorsed 
these  statements,  and  as  ^a  result,  after  full  discussion,  the 
following  was  adopted :  Resolved^ 

That  during  the  next  year,  which 
is  the  centennial 

Centennial  Methodism, 

Offering  ,  r 

we,  as  members  of 

the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  recommend  a  special 
thank  offering  of  ^25,000  over 
and  above  our  regular  mission¬ 
ary  operations,  or  our  centennial 
offerings  for  other  objects  directed 
by  the  Church,  this  offering  to  be 
appropriated  for  the  printing  of  an 
illustrated  zenana  periodical  espe¬ 
cially  adapted  to  the  wants  of 
women  and  children.”  Other  reso¬ 
lutions  covered  necessary  pro¬ 
visions  for  its  conduct,  and  the 
promise  of  the  last  $^,000,  by  Mrs. 

Elizabeth  Sleeper  Davis  of  Boston, 
the  gift  of  a  steam  press  worth 
$2,2^0  from  David  C.  Cook  of  Chi¬ 
cago,  and  a  general  interest  on  the 
part  of  many  workers,  showed  that 
this  effort  to  establish  the  Friend 
family  in  India  was  in  line  with 
providential  leading  and  blessing. 

The  paper  was  to  be  issued  dur¬ 
ing  the  month  of  January,  1884, 
and  as  the  plans  made  could  not 
materialize  at  once,  it  was  voted 


that  the  expenses  of  the  first  year  a  “Frik.nd”  illustration 


THE 


T  O  K  I  W  A 


13 


A  Wise 
Enterprise 


—  not  to  exceed  ^1,200  — should  be  paid  from 
the  surplus  funds  of  the  Heathen  Woman'' s 
Frierid.  This  was  done  accordingly.  Miss  Hart, 
in  writing  of  this  new  enterprise,  says  :  “  Probably  the  wisest  and 
most  significant,  as  certainly  the  bravest,  work  undertaken  at  the 
recent  session  of  our  General  Executive  Committee,  was  the 
plan  to  create  an  endowment  fund  of  $25,000  for  the  establish¬ 
ment  of  such  a  paper.” 

The  first  editions  of  this  Woman’’ s  Friend  were  in  Hindi 
and  Urdu.  Later  a  Bengali  edition  was  published  in  Calcutta, 
and  one  in  Tamil  in  Madras.  In  "1893  a  Marathi  edition  was 
made  possible  by  the  gift  of  one  person,  and 
was  published  in  Bombay.  The  first  two  are 
fortnightly  editions,  the  others  monthly.  The 
paper  is  devoted  to  Christian  teaching,  to  the  discussion  of 
practical  matters  pertaining  to  the  life  of  women,  and  such 
descriptions  of  interesting  objects  and  things  as  may  serve 
to  brighten  the  homes  into  which  it  goes.  It  reaches  about 
20,000  women. 


Little  Zenana 
Preachers 


THE  TOKIWA. 

Great  interest  attaches  to  every  attempt  made  in  our  foreign 
mission  fields  to  give  the  people  Christian  literature  in  their 
own  language.  By  this  we  do  not  mean  translations  of  the 
The  Japan  Bible,  religious  books  and  hymnals  alone. 

Woman’s  These  are  made,  as  a  matter  of  course,  at  the 

Friend  earliest  possible  moment;  but  there  still  remains 

a  wide  scope  for  an  uplifting  literature  which  shall  reveal  “  the 
beautiful  things  of  the  kingdom  ”  in  a  practical  way.  India 
has  its  zenana  paper,  China  has  a  variety  of  translations 
adapted  to  Christian  development,  of  which  we  have  no  tabu¬ 
lated  list,  and  Japan  has  its  Tokiwa  (or  “  Evergreen  ”)  edited 


I 

\ 

I 


SOME  OF  OUR  ARTISTIC  JAPANESE  PUBLICATIONS 


THE  H  E  I  D  E  N  FRAUEN  FREUND 


15 

by  Miss  Georgiana  Baucus,  one  of  our  gifted  missionaries. 
This  small  magazine,  “the  dear  Friend  of  Japanese  women,” 
enters  700  homes  each  month,  has  more  than  3,000  readers,, 
and  “  wields  an  influence  greater  than  preacher  or  teacher.” 

Its  enthusiastic  editor  is  assisted  by  Miss  Emma  E.  Dickin¬ 
son,  and  together  they  not  only  prepare  this  excellent  and 
highly  appreciated  periodical,  but  issue  leaflets,  illustrated 
series  of  Sunday  School  cards,  chain  cards. 

General  Bible  book-marks,  and  all  sorts  of  unique  de- 

Literature 

signs  to  catch  the  eye  and  touch  the  heart  of 
the  beauty-loving  Japanese.  As  we  read  of  the  demand  for 
such  literature,  not  only  among  children,  but  increasingly 
among  men  and  women,  we  feel  sure  that  God  “  called  ”  Miss 
Baucus  and  her  co-worker  to  this  special  service.  Sales  have 
been  so  satisfactory  that  their  output  is  practically  self  support¬ 
ing.  Miss  Baucus  says;  “There  is  this  blessed  comfort  in 
working  for  the  women  of  Japan.  They  are  grateful,  not 
critical.  They  appreciate  even  the  crumbs  from  our  well-filled 
tables.  The  Tokiwa  is  but  a  crumb.” 


THE  HEIDEN-FRAUEN-FREUND 

A  growing  German  constituency  had  for  several  years  asked 
for  leaflets  in  its  own  language,  and  these  had  been  furnished*, 
but  in  1885  the  Executive  Committee,  holding  its  session  in 
Notable  Evanston,  Ill.,  met  the  desire  of  our  German 

Action  sisters  by  more  tangible  legislation,  as  follows ; 

in  1885  a  Whereas^  we  recognize  the  growing  demand 

among  our  German  auxiliaries  for  literature  in  their  own  Ian- 
guage ;  therefore.  Resolved^  That  we  recommend  such  a 
monthly  German  periodical  as  shall  be  deemed  best  by  a  com¬ 
mittee  composed  of  the  editor  and  the  agent  of  the  Heathen 
Wo7nan''s  Friend  and  Miss  Dreyer,  the  German  secretary.” 

The  first  number  was  issued  in  January,  1886,  and  at  the  end 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


l6 


At  the  meeting  of  the  Execu- 
1887,  Miss  Dreyer  was 


in 


of  the  year  1,200  subscribers  were  reported.  In  fact,  this 
paper  has  always  been  supported  by  a  larger  percentage  of  its 
First  Year  of  constituency  than  any  other  periodical  issued 
German  by  the  Society. 

Friend  Committee 

released  from  her  reportorial 
work  on  the  paper,  as  Mrs. 

Warren’s  assistant,  because  of 
her  many  duties  as  organizer 
and  secretary,  and  Mrs.  War¬ 
ren,  who  was  eminently  fitted 
by  her  acquaintance  with  the 
German  language,  became  its 
sole  editor. 

Two  years  later,  at  the  meet¬ 
ing  held  in  Detroit,  the  position 
of  editor  of  the  Heiden-Fraueii- 


Change  of 
Name 


Fretind  was  giv- 


Miss  Maroaretha  Dreyer 


en  to  Mrs.  Ph. 

Achard,  who 
thus  became  the  first  German 
woman  “  in  the  known  world  ” 

to  act  in  this  capacity.  When  the  name  of  the  Heathen 
Wo7na7i‘s  Frie7td  was  changed  to  Wo77ia7t's  Missio7iary  F7'ie7id^ 
in  1895,  the  name  of  the  German  paper  was  also  changed  to 
Fraiien-Missio7is-Freu7id. 

Mrs.  Achard  held  her  office  until  1902,  when  she  dropped  all 
■earth’s  duties  for  heaven’s  rewards.  Her  daughter.  Miss 
Amalie  M.  Achard,  was  elected  in  her  place,  and  is  continuing 
the  work  with  great  efficiency.  In  all  the  years 
Change  of  this  paper  has  been  published,  it  has  never 

shown  a  decrease  in  its  subscription  list ;  and, 
.counting  European  and  American  subscribers,  it  reports  more 
.than  fifty  per  cent,  of  its  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
jmembers  on  its  subscription  list. 


H  E  A  T  HEN  CHILDREN’S  FRIEND 


17 


THE  HEATHEN  CHILDREN’S  FRIEND 

Although  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was 
slow  to  avail  itself  of  that  entirely  accessible  treasury  located 
in  the  hearts  and  hands  of  children,  and  in  fact  legislated 
Children’s  Dept  3&3.inst  the  formation  of  juvenile  societies,  it 
in  Woman’s  did  recognize  the  necessity  of  educating  these 

Friend  small  people  along  missionary  lines.  With 

this  in  view,  the  Heathe7i  Woiiiaii’s  Friend  sustained  a  Chil¬ 
dren’s  Department,  where  were  foun  1  letters  and  stories  from 
the  missionaries,  with  occasional  contributions  from  home 
talent.  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Willard  was  the  acceptable  editor  of 
this  department  during  1877  and  ’78,  but  aside  from  this,  Mrs. 
Warren  was  in  charge  for  twenty  years,  making  it  an  attractive 
feature  of  the  paper. 

The  children  were  waking  up,  however,  and  in  spite  of  legis¬ 
lation,  mission  bands  were  being  organized  and  demands  were 
made  for  more  literature  adapted  to  their  use.  In  1888  and 
1 889,  Mrs.  J.  T. 

Gracey  endeav¬ 
ored  to  meet 
the  demand  by  preparing  some 
leaflets,  and  especially  a  four- 
page  “  Quarterly  Leaflet  ”,  for 
boys  and  girls.  Previous  to 
this,  efforts  had  been  made  at 
several  Executive  Committee 
sessions  to  secure  a  vote  favor¬ 
ing  the  establishment  of  a  chil¬ 
dren’s  paper,  but  without  avail. 

But  the  editor  and  the  publisher 
of  the  Friejid,  with  other  pro¬ 
gressive  spirits,  continued  to 
agitate  the  matter,  and  in  Octo¬ 
ber,  1889,  at  the  Executive  session  held  in  Detroit,  the  follow- 


Children’s 
Paper  Urged 


A  Constant  Reader 


i8 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


ing  appeared  in  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Publication: 

Resolved^  That  we  recommend  the  discontinuance  of  the 
‘  Children’s  Quarterly  Leaflet’  and  ‘  Children’s  Department’  in 
the  Heathen  Woman’’ s  Frierid^  and  recommend,  instead  thereof, 
the  issue  of  a  child’s  paper,  to  be  published 
Action  of  1889  monthly,  at  a  subscription  price  of  flfteen  cents 
a  single  copy  per  year,  or  ten  cents  if  taken 
together  with  the  Friendd  So,  though  late,  the  children  claimed 
their  own!  Mrs.  Emily  Huntington  Miller,  whose  literary  and 
journalistic  ability  was  already  firmly  established,  was  nomi¬ 
nated  for  the  office  of  editor,  but  felt  obliged  to  decline  this 
appointment,  and  the  New  England  delegation  presented  tlie 
name  of  Mrs.  O.  W.  Scott,  who  was  elected. 

The  first  number  of  the  little  eight-page  paper  appeared  in 

January,  1890,  with  the  name  Heathen  Children'‘s  Friend^  and 

was  well  received,  its  first  report  showing  5,128  subscribers. 

The  “  Little  With  the  beginning  of  the  next  year  ils  size 

Friend”  was  increased  to  twelve  pages.  In  1895  its 

Appears  name  was  changed  to  Childre7i’s  Missionary 

Friend^  and  in  1898  the  price  for  single  subscriptions  was 

raised  to  twenty  cents.  Another  change  came  in  1903,  when, 

/  by  reason  of  the 

Growth  and  unification  of  chil- 

Changes  ... 

dren  s  societies  in 

charge  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  under  the  one 
name,  King’s  Heralds,  and  the  nec¬ 
essity  for  more  space  for  a  rapidly  growing  constituency,  four 
pages  were  added,  making  the  little  Friejid  a  sixteen-page  paper. 

From  the  beginning  of  its  career,  editor  and  publisher  have 
striven  to  use  illustrations  freely  and  judiciously.  It  has  been 
necessary  to  study  economy,  but  since  the  first  years  —  when 
its  life  was  sustained  by  that  phenomenal  “sur- 
Illustrations  fund”  of  the  mother  F7'ie)id — its  cuts 


King’s  Herald  Badge 


HEATHEN  children’s  FRIEND 


19 


Lessons 


have  been  noticeably  interesting  and  educative,  a  large  propor¬ 
tion  being  from  photographs  of  children  and  scenes  in  our 
mission  fields. 

From  the  first  the  paper  has  given  one  page  —  sometimes 
more  —  to  “  Our  Lesson,”  which  has  conformed  usually  to  the 
line  of  study  followed  by  the  Auxiliaries.  Spe¬ 
cial  programs  have  also  been  given  for  Thank 
Offerings,  Harvest  Home,  Mite  Box  Opening  and  Little  Light 
Bearer  anniversaries. 

Its  contributions  from  the  missionaries  have  always  been 
exceptionally  bright,  for,  as  one  of  the  weary  workers  has 
written,  “  one  must  smile  when  one  thinks  of  the  children.” 

A  few  writers  of  children’s  stories  in  the  home 
Contributions  jg^^d  have  also  given  of  their  best.  In  fact, 

judging  by  the  liberal  use  of  its  contributions 
in  our  exchanges,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  it  is  widely  appre¬ 
ciated.  The  reports  of  Mission  Bands  and  King’s  Heralds 
have  always  been  a  valued  feature,  suggestive  and  inspiring. 

The  editor  was  long  impressed  that  the  readers  of  the  paper 
might  be  inclined  to  give  for  special  work^  if  objects  were 
attractively  presented.  The  first  step  in  this 
Special  Wor  direction  was  during  the  terrible  India  famine, 

in  1897,  when  1^355  was  reported,  gifts  from  the  children  of 
the  New  England  Branch.  The  success  of  this  small  begin¬ 
ning  led  the  editor  to  ask  larger  things,  and 
in  1898  the  Finance  Committee  gave  the  chil¬ 
dren  the  privilege  of  building  an  orphanage  in 
Baroda,  India,  as  their  Twentieth  Century  thank-offering.  In 
.three  years,  more  than  $S,ooo  was  reported  through  the  little 
Friend.  The  next  “special”  was  a  Home  for 
^hemulpo  missionaries  in  Chemulpo,  Korea.  For 

this  ^(soo  was  acknowledged. 

In  1902  the  readers  of  this  paper  were  asked  to  build  a 
ischool  and  home  in  Hai  Tang,  China.  Attractive  blanks  and 


Baroda 

Orphanage 


20 


OUR 


L  I  T  E  R  A  T  U  R  1-: 


Hai  Tang 
School  and 
Home 


cards  were  issued  as  with  the  other  Thank 
Offerings,  and  a  generous  response  has  fol¬ 
lowed.  Nearly  $10,000  has  thus  far  been 
reported  through  the  paper  as  the  result  of  these  free-will  gifts 
from  its  readers. 

It  was  during  1891,  that  Mrs.  Lucie  F.  Harrison,  now  super¬ 
intendent  of  Children’s  Work,  thought  of  enlisting  the  babies 
of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  as  “  active  mem¬ 
bers,”  under  the  title 

Little  Light  Little  Light  Bearers. 

Bearers 

In  March,  1 893,  a  page 
of  the  children’s  paper  was  dedicated 
to  these  infant  recruits.  It  has 
always  been  a  popular  page,  and 
increasingly  so  since  the  life  member 
photographs  have  appeared  upon  it, 
beginning  in  October,  1902,  with 
Ruth  Josephine  (Sites)  Brown, 
year  and  a  half,  more  than 
winsome  faces  had  “  followed 
leader,”  and  still  they  come! 

The  Childreii's  Missionary  Friend  is  prepared  and  adapted 
to  the  class  of  boys  and  girls  from  seven  or  eight  up  to  fifteen 
years,  although  there  are  gray-haired  young  folk  who  are  its 
devoted  readers.  As  it  is  the  only  children’s 
foreign  missionary  periodical  now  issued  by 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  it  has  re¬ 
ceived  a  most  kindly  welcome  in  many  Sunday  Schools,  as 
well  as  in  Junior  Leagues  and  King’s  Herald  bands,  where  its 
lessons  and  stories  form  a  basis  for  the  monthly  meetings.  It 
issues  a  monthly  edition  of  30,000  copies. 


In  a 
forty 
their 


Ruth  Josephine  Brown 


Its 

Constitution 


\ 


UNIFORM  READINGS 


2  I 


UNIFORM  READINGS,  UNIFORM  STUDY,  THE  STUDY 

“  Noihing  is  so  hard  but  search  will  find  it  out.’’ 

The  first  movement  toward  a  more  comprehensive  and 
systematic  study  of  foreign  missions  and  mission  fields  seems 
to  have  been  made  by  the  Northwestern  Branch  in  1876.  In 


December  of  that  year,  the  Heathen  Wo7nan''s 
Friend  published  the  first  “  Uniform  Readings 
for  Missionary  Meetings,”  in  the  department 


Uniform 

Readings 


conducted  by  that  Branch.  The  readings  were  prepared  by 
Mrs.  Stagg  of  Indianapolis,  a  sister  of  Jennie  Tinsley  (Waugh), 
one  of  our  first  missionaries,  and  the  first  were  on  India,  with 
exhaustive  references  to  divisions,  population,  climate  and 
productions,  inhabitants,  manners,  customs,  caste,  etc.,  — 
a  prophecy  of  what  was  to  come  more  than  twenty  years 
later  in  Lux  Chrisii.  While  these  readings  were  prepared  for 
one  Branch,  they  were  accessible  to  all,  through  the  F7''iend. 
The  General  Executive  Committee  evidently  learned  the  favor 
accorded  them,  for  in  1878  we  find  among  the  “resolutions  of 
the  Committee  as  a  whole”  the  following;  Resolved^  That 
we  have  a  committee  on  Leaflets  and  Uniform  Readings,  a 
p.irt  of  the  duties  of  which  shall  be  to  arrange  a  series  of 
uniform  readings  for  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  auxiliaries.” 

In  the  Heathe7i  Wo77ia7i‘s  Frie7id^  November,  ’79,  a  “well- 
known  Congregaiionalist  sister  ”  is  quoted  as  follows  ;  “  I 

have  read  with  a  deep  thrill  of  hope  and  satisfaction  the 


Uniform  Readings  in  the  Frie7id.  To  me  they 
are  a  prophecy  of  uniform  missionary  lessons 
for  the  auxiliaries  of  all  our  Woman’s  Boards, 


What  “  Other 
People  ”  Said 


and  the  long-prayed-for  time  when  the  ‘  mountain  of  the  Lord’s 
house  ’  shall  be  established  on  the  tip  of  all  our  denominational 
mountains.  .  .  .  Nothmg  else  could  give  so  great  a7i  i77ipulse 
to  all  77iissio7iary  effort  as  such  a  77^ove77ie7it  for  7i7iio7ii’''  And 
twenty  years  later  her  prophecy  was  fulfilled  in  the  interdenom- 
national  studies. 


22 


OUR 


I.  ITERATURE 


Committee 
and  Topics 


The  following  year  the  general  topic  was;  “The  missions 
of  our  church  taken  up  in  chronological  order.”  Each  country 
was  to  run  through  three  months,  and  different  women  were 
appointed  to  prepare  the  readings.  The  same 
method  was  continued  through  1880,  but  in 
1881  a  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  Execu¬ 
tive  Committee,  as  follows:  '•’■Resolved^  That  the  uniform 
readings  of  the  past  year  have  been  excellent  and  instructive,, 
but  that  for  the  sake  of  inciting  our  women  to  greater  research, 
we  recommend  that  the  committee  having  in  charge  the  prep¬ 
aration  of  these  readings  for  the  coming  year  shall  give  them  in 
outline  rather  than  in  detail.”  Mrs.  Tudor  and  Mrs.  Nind  were 
appointed  a  general  committee,  with  eleven  women  as  sub¬ 
committees  and  alternates. 

The  General  Executive  of  ’82  appointed  Mrs.  J.  H.  Knowles 
and  Mrs.  Dr.  Hibbard  to  arrange  the  plan  for  ’83,  and  recom¬ 
mended  that  a  Bible  reading  be  added  for  each  month.  In 
1883  a  similar  method  was  adopted  for  the  coming  5^ear,  and 
Mrs.  J.  T.  Gracey  was  given  charge  to  prepare  and  present  as 
she  pleased. 

At  the  Executive  session  of  1884,  the  following  preamble 
and  resolution  were  adopted  :  “  Whe^'eas^  Your  committee  hnd, 
upon  inquiry,  that  the  uniform  readings  are  not  answering 
their  original  purpose,  and  are  not  uni\  ersally 
used  in  our  auxiliaries,  therefore,  Resolved^ 
That  a  uniform  plan  of  study  be  substituted 
for  these  readings,  to  occupy  not  more  than  one  column  of  the 
Friend^  and  that  Mrs.  H.  Benton,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  be 
requested  to  take  charge  of  this  work.”  Mrs.  Benton  gave 
excellent  service  for  three  years,  and  upon  her  resignation, 
October,  1887,  the  uniform  readings  were  included  in  the 
work  given  to  the  Literature  Committee,  newly  formed  that 
year. 

With  fresh  vigor  the  study  plan  was  announced  and  pre- 


Uniform 

Study 


THE 


STUD  Y 


23 


seated  early  in  1888,  with  the  added  feature  of  special  leaflets 
to  accompany  each  month’s  lesson  —  most  of  them  free.  The 


The  New 
Plan 


Committee  also  gave  short  lessons  for  the  chil¬ 


dren  in  their  department  of  the  Friend.  This 
method  continued  the  following  year,  but  in 
October,  1890,  the  following  was  adopted  :  “  Resolved.,  That  in 
view  of  the  increasing  popularity  and  usefulness  of  the  uniform 
studies  we  recommend  their  continuance  in 

^  ,  supplemental  form,  and  that  the  leaflet  bearino: 

Supplement  ,  ,  . 

directly  upon  the  study  be  issued  as  part  of 

the  supplement.”  Hence,  beginning  with  1891,  and  continiu 

ing  through  ’92  and  ’93,  the  uniform  study  was  on  a  separate 

leaf,  the  size  of  the  Friend,  and  one  was  slipped  into  each 

number  of  the  paper.  Extra  copies  were  furnished  for  a  small 

price. 

In  the  records  of  the  Executive  session,  October,  1894,  we 
find  ;  “  Resolved,  That,  instead  of  the  supplement  we  recommend 
the  publication  of  a  brief  outline  of  the  monthly  uniform  study 
The  Study  Heathen  Wo7na7i's  Frie7id.  Also,  we 

a  Separate  recommend  that  the  same  study,  more  fully 
Publication  prepared  in  leaflet  form,  shall  be  published  at 
a  subscription  price  not  exceeding  thirty  cents  a  year  for  one 
dozen  copies  a  month.”  Mrs.  Knowles,  secretary  of  the  Liter¬ 
ature  Committee,  explains  that  this  change  was  made  to  relieve 
that  overtaxed  “surplus  fund”  of  the  F7'ie7id. 

Considerable  anxiety  was  felt  lest  the  change  decrease  the 
circulation  of  the  Study,  but  when  the  reports  were  given  in  — 
October,  1895  —  there  were  nearly  as  many  subscribers  to  the 
new  publication  as  to  the  Frie7id ;  that  is, 
A  Successful  19,984  against  20,41 1.  The  experiment  was  re¬ 
garded  as  a  success,  and  in  1896  it  was  voted 
to  make  the  Study  a  permanent  publication,  and  also  to 
provide  for  an  outline  of  study  in  the  Frie7id. 


24 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


EDITORS 


The  First 
Editor 


“Wasting  no  needless  sound,  yet  ever  working 
Hour  after  iiour  upon  a  needy  world.” 

Every  paper  and  magazine  bears,  to  a  certain  extent,  the 
stamp  of  the  personality  which  guides  the  editorial  pen. 
Because  this  is  true,  it  seems  proper  to  give  space  for  brief 
reference  to  the  editors  of  the  periodicals 
already  described.  Mrs.  Harriet  M.  Warren 
began  her  work 
as  editor  of  the  Heathen 
Woman'' s  F7ne7id  with  its  first 
issue  in  1869.  She  was  young, 
and  with  characteristic  modesty 
doubted  her  ability  to  fill  this 
impoi'tant  position,  but  finally 
yielded  to  what  was  evidently 
“the  call  of  the  Lord.”  From 
the  first  the  paper  bore  the 
imprint  of  her  pure,  refined  and 
cultured  spirit.  She  gave  to  it 
twenty-four  years  of  faithful  and 
loving  service,  seeing  it  become 
a  power  for  foreign  missions, 
with  a  circulation  beyond  that 
of  any  similar  publication. 

Her  personal  contributions  to  the  paper  were  always  valuable, 
although  she  was  slow  to  admit  this.  She  once  said  laughingly  ; 
“  The  ladies  think  I  ought  to  give  them  more  editorials.  I 
write  them,  but  when  better  things  come  in,  I  put  them  in  the 
drawer.”  But  somehow — who  can  tell  the  secret?  —  she  won 
the  hearts  of  her  readers.  Mrs.  Warren  was  a  charming 
correspondent.  Her  letters  to  the  missionaries,  officers  and 
workers  in  the  home  field,  bore  a  gracious  touch  of  individual 
interest  which  was  irresistible. 


Mrs.  Harriet  M.  Warren 


THE 


EDITORS 


25 


Her  ofifice  for  several  years  as  corresponding  secretary  of  the 
New  England  Branch,  gave  constant  opportunity  for  the  exer¬ 
cise  of  this  rare  gift.  As  a  presiding  officer,  Mrs.  Warren  was 
peerless.  Always  cheerful  and  hopeful,  her  knowledge  and 
tact  were  also  equal  to  any  emergency,  as  was  evidenced  while 
a  presiding  officer  for  twelve  years  in  her  own  Branch,  as  well 
as  in  the  more  trying  Executive  Committee  sessions,  where  she 
acted  as  president  on  seven  different  occasions. 

A  Member  of  When  the  Literature  Committee  was  reorgan- 
the  Literature  ized  in  1887,  Mrs.  Warren  was  one  of  the  com- 
Committee  mittee  of  five  elected,  and  for  nearly  six  years 
gave  much  time  and  thought  to  its  work. 

During  all  these  years  her  best  service  was  given  to  home 
and  family  interests,  a  fact  to  be  explained  only  by  Him  who 
gives  the  “sufficient  strength.”  From  all  these 
Called  Home  duties  she  was  suddenly  called  to  the 

land  of  the  immortals  January  7,  1893. 

The  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  indicated  its 
appreciation  of  her  unequaled  service  by  erecting  the  “  Harriet 
Warren  Hall,”  connected  with  our  college  for 
women  in  Lucknow,  India.  More  enduring 
than  this,  even,  is  the  memorial  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
loved  her,  and  in  the  growth  of  the  Society. 

After  Mrs.  Warren’s  death,  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  Warren 

Ayars,  most  efficiently  filled  the  office  of  editor 

A  Daughter  s  tPg  next  session  of  the  Executive  Corn- 

Service 

mittee  held  in  St.  Paul,  October,  1893.  At 
that  time  she  resigned  because  of  home  cares. 


Her  Memorial 


26 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


MISS  LOUISE  MANNING  HODGKINS 

The  successor  of  Mrs.  Ayars  was  Miss  Louise  Manning 
Hodgkins.  Miss  Hodgkins  was  for  several  years  in  Lawrence 
University,  Appleton,  Wisconsin,  and  later  filled  the  chair 
of  professor  of 


The  New 
Editor 


English  Litera- 


Miss  Louise  Manning  Hodgkins 


ture  in  Wellesley 
College  most  acceptably  for  a 
series  of  years.  After  resigning 
this  position,  she  devoted  her¬ 
self  to  study  at  home  and  abroad, 
and  to  literary  work.  She  had 
had  a  long-time  connection  with 
the  Woman’s  Foreign  Mission¬ 
ary  Society,  and  well  under¬ 
stood  its  spirit  and  aims.  She 
entered  upon  her  editorial  work 
with  great  enthusiasm,  and, 
with  determination  to  make  the 
Frieiid  felt  even  more  power¬ 
fully  than  during  its  past 

history,  developed  several  new  features  and  departments  in 
the  magazine.  In  1900  Miss  Hodgkins  took 
a  round-the-world  trip,  visiting  en  route  our 
mission  stations  in  Japan,  Korea,  China  and 
Straits  Settlements,  returning  to  her  work  with  a  more  definite 
knowledge  of  the  vast  interests  involved. 

After  the  adoption  of  interdenominational  studies  by  leading 
Woman’s  Boards,  Miss  Hodgkins  was  chosen  to  write  the  first 
text  book,  which  she  called  Via  Christi.  This 
book  was  a  most  valuable  compilation  and  has 
had  a  truly  phenomenal  sale.  The  editor’s  official  influence 
has  extended  into  most  of  the  Branches  through  her  platform 
addresses  before  conventions  of  various  kinds,  giving  her  a 
wide  acquaintance  with  our  constituency. 


A  Trip 
Abroad 


Via  Christi 


T  II  E 


EDITORS 


27 


First  German 
Editor 


MRS.  PH.  ACHARD 

Although  Mrs.  Warren  successfully  edited  the 
Freund  for  several  years,  assisted  by  Miss  Dreycr,  secretary  of 
German  work,  it  will  always  be  associated  with  the  name  of 
Mrs.  Ph.  Achard,  its  first  German  editor.  Mrs. 
Achard  was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Jacoby,  who 
founded  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in 
Germany.  She  married  Rev.  Clement  Achard  in  her  native 
land,  and  came  with  him  to  this  country  in  1888,  settling  first 
in  Quincy,  Illinois,  where  her  husband  assumed  a  pastorate. 

Mrs.  Warren,  knowing  her 
ability,  soon  persuaded  her  to 
take  the  paper,  which  she  did^ 
as  she  once  said, 

Mrs.  Achard  s  u  Qf  love  for 

the  editor.  She 
was  elected  to  her  office  at  the 
Executive  Session  of  1889,  and 
for  twelve  years  successfully 
demonstrated  that  strength  is 
given  for  ihe  day  and  the  duty. 

She  had  a  large  family,  was 
mother,  housekeeper,  pastor’s 
wife,  and  —  editor.  Eor  some 
months  she  was  also  super¬ 
intendent  of  German  work, 
and  devoted  to  the  advance¬ 
ment  of  foreign  missions  among  her  sisters.  It  was  her  pride 
and  joy  to  report  “just  a  little  advance”  in  subscribers  to  the 
Freimd^  and  the  expression  of  her  face,  when  congratulated, 
testified  to  her  singleness  of  purpose.  After  her  triumphant 
death,  October  5,  1902,  her  daughter,  Miss  Amalie  Achard, 
was  elected,  and  gratefully  assumed  the  blessed  burden  her 
mother  had  laid  down  at  the  threshold  of  the  better  land. 


Mrr.  Ph.  Achard 


28 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


Books  and 
Leaflets 


MRS.  O.  W.  SCOTT 

One  of  the  gifted  women  who  has  built  her  literary  work 
firmly  into  the  structure  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  publications  is  Mrs.  O.  W.  Scott,  known  to  recent 
publishers’ cata¬ 
logues  as  Lucy 
Jameson  Scott, 
author  of  a  delightful  book  for 
children  —  Twelve  Little  Pil- 
grifns  who  Stayed  at  Ho7ne. 

Mrs.  Scott’s  facile  pen  has 
contributed  many  successful 
leaflets  for  auxiliaries,  such  as 
the  attractive  “Pioneer”  and 
“  Flag”  series  ;  and  many  more 
for  children’s  work,  of  which 
the  clever  “  Mother  Goose  and 
Her  Family  as  Mission  Work¬ 
ers  ”  may  be  cited. 

As  pastor’s  wife,  as  house 
mother,  as  a  W.  C.  T.  U. 

worker,  as  member  of  the  Literature  Committee 
of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Societ}^, 
as  a  projector  of  children’s  literature  or  “  special 
work,”  Mrs.  Scott  has  been  uniformly  successful.  But  it  is  as 
editor  of  the  Childreii''s  Misssionary  Ft'ieiid^  which  has  been 
under  her  charge  since  its  establishment  in  1890,  that  she  has 
found  her  vocation,  and  here  her  charming  literary  gifts  and  her 
genius  for  reaching  the  hearts  of  the  little  people  have  had 
free  play.  The  “little  ”  Friend  is  very  dear  to  its  editor,  and 
its  steadily  increasing  success  in  both  effectiveness  and  circu¬ 
lation  shows  clearly  her  special  “call”  to  this  work.  Mrs. 
Scott’s  literary  work  is  favorably  known  outside  missionary 
and  denominational  interests.  (Editor.) 


Mrs.  O.  W.  Scott 


The 

Children’s 

Friend 


1  M  E 


EDITORS 


MRS.  J.  T.  GRACEY 

No  history  of  the  literature  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Mission¬ 
ary  Society  would  be  complete  without  personal  reference  to 
the  editor  of  the  Study ^  although  that  was  a  small  part  of  Mrs. 

Gracey’s  work,  for  she  was  also  editor  of  leaflets- 
^  for  niany  years.  This  “  elect  lady,”  in  her  early 

married  life,  went  with  her  husband  to  India 
as  a  missionary.  Failing  health  compelled  a  return  to  this 
country,  but  there  was  no  failure  in  her  love  for  missions. 

Very  soon  she  identified  herself 
with  the  women  who  were 
planning  to  “  take  the  world, 
and  made  herself  felt  as  a 
speaker  and  writer.  In  1878  her 
name  appears  as  secretary  of 
the  Executive  meeting  held  that 
year  in  Boston,  and,  as  up  to 
the  present  writing  she  has 
filled  that  responsible  office  at 
twenty-two  sessions,  it  would 
appear  that  she  is  “  a  born 
secretary.”  The  old  saw  runs, 
“Take  care  of  the  minutes  and 
the  hours  will  take  care  of 
themselves.”  Mrs.  Gracey  has 
taken  care  of  the  “  Minutes.” 
As  early  as  1877,  Mrs.  Gracey  saw  a  demand  for  a  larger 
leaflet  provision,  and  from  that  date  until  190G  wrote  and 
edited  —  how  many  leaflets,  booklets  and  reports?  The  record 
is  not  yet  made,  but  some  day  we  shall  be  astonished  by  its 
magnitude. 

Beginning  with  1888,  she  became  editor  of  the  Study ^  which 
later  was  made  one  of  the  permanent  publications.  While  it 
was  a  part  of  the  F?'iend^  while  it  was  a  supplement,  when 


30 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


Editor 
of  the  Study 


it  became  a  separate  four-page  leaflet,  in  1894, 
she  carefully  and  judiciously  prepared  it  for 
a  large  and  ever-growing  constituency.  In 
1901,  weary  with  ceaseless  pen  work,  she  resigned  this 
editorship.  The  Study  at  this  time  had  31,232  subscribers. 

As  a  representative  woman,  no  one  has  filled  so  many 
responsible  positions  as  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch.  With 
a  wide  acquaintance  among  living  missionaries  and  missionary 
^  workers,  and  surrounded  with  books,  maga- 

Representative  zines,  and  “  Lives  ”  manifold,  she  has  become. 
Woman  perforce,  a  cyclopaedia  of  missionary  informa¬ 

tion,  reaching  far  into  the  “  musty,  dusty  past,”  but  never 
losing  the  trend  of  the  actual  present.  When  the  United 
Study  of  Missions  brought  together  the  Woman’s  Boards  of 
most  of  the  larger  denominations,  and  a  Central  Committee 
was  chosen,  Mrs.  Gracey  became  the  representative  of  our 
Society.  Her  connection  for  many  years  with  our  Literature 
Committee  will  be  noticed  elsewhere. 

Mrs.  M.  S.  Budlong,  of  Rockford, 

Ill.,  was  Mrs.  Gracey ’s  successor  for 
one  year  as  editor  of  the  Study ^  re¬ 
signing  at  the  end  of  that  time  on 

«  ,  ,  account  of  ill  health. 

Subsequent 

Study  Mrs.  Budlong  i  s  a 

Editors  woman  of  fine  literary 

ability,  and  has  written  leaflets  and 
papers  of  various  kinds.  Her  “  Bright 
Bits,”  compilations  of  choice  prose 
and  poetry,  have  aided  many  an 
auxiliary  in  arranging  acceptable 

programs.  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Northup,  of  Waltham,  Mass., 
was  elected  editor  of  the  Study  in  1902.  Miss  Northup  is  a 
young  college  woman,  with  unusual  ability  as  writer,  editor 
and  speaker.  By  inheritance  she  is  a  lover  of  die  Woman’s 


Mrs.  M.  S.  BTJDix)Na 


THE 


EDITORS 


31 


Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  by  what  may  be  termed  a 
direct  providential  leading,  has  come  through  this  editorial 
work  into  an  inheritance  of  blessed  service.  The  Study  was 
never  more  acceptable  and  progressive.  It  has  a  monthly  cir¬ 
culation  of  39,489. 


Woman’s 

Friend 


EDITORS  OF  THE  ZENANA  PAPERS 

The  editors  of  this  paper  have  always  been  from  the  ranks 
of  our  busy  missionary  workers.  As  five  editions  are  issued, 
many  editorial  pens  have  aided  in  their  preparation.  Just 
The  India  twenty  years  ago,  this  IVoma/iS  Friend^  known 
as  the  Rafiq^  first  appeared  in  Lucknow,  in  two 
editions,  with  Miss  L.  E.  Blackmar  as  editor. 
Mrs.  B.  H.  Badley  succeeded  her  in  1887,  and  Miss  Isabella 
Thoburn  was  appointed  editor  when  Mrs.  Badley  returned  to 
America.  Mrs.  L.  H.  Messmore  was  her  successor,  and  is  the 
present  editor.  In  her  report  to  the  North  India  Conference, 
Mrs.  Messmore  says  :  “  The  Rafiq  needs  and  deserves  the 

thought  and  supervision  of  one  woman,  and  if  this  one  woman 
gives  the  thought  and  care,  the  paper  will  grow  and  its  mission 
will  be  blessed.” 

The  Bengali  edition,  published  in  Calcutta,  and  known  as 
Mahela  Bondhate^  has  been  edited  by  Mrs.  Meek  and  Miss 
Kate  Blair,  while  that  in  Madras  —  the  Tamil  issue  —  Mathar 
Mithiri^  has  been  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Rudisell, 
Mrs.  George  Isham,  and  finally  of  Miss  Grace 
Stephens.  The  Bombay  edition  was  first 
edited  by  Miss  Sarah  De  Line,  then  by  Miss  Minnie  Abrams, 
and  is  now  in  charge  of  Miss  Helen  Robinson.  Many 
of  our  missionaries  contribute  helpful  articles  to  these  silent 
but  effective  zenana  visitors. 


Other 

Editions 


32 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


PUBLISHERS 

Mrs.  Lydia  H.  Daggett  was  the  first  publisher,  or  agent,  of 
the  Heathen  Woman'' s  Friend..  Her  work  began  in  1871, 
when  almost  as  a  pioneer,  she  had  to  meet  the  perplexities  of 
a  business 
woman’s  life. 

For  twelve 
years  she  managed  the  financial 
side  of  the  literature,  seeing 
the  early  growth  and  develop¬ 
ment  of  the  Society.  Mrs. 

Daggett  was  a  pronounced 


A  Dozen 
Years 


Mrs.  Lydia  H.  Daggett 


figure  in  most  of  the  meetings 
of  the  New  England  Branch 
and  also  of  the  Executive 
Committee  during  these  years. 

Always  dressed  in  the  style 
which  prevailed  in  1860-61, 
on  account  of  a  vow  taken  in 
her  young  womanhood  which 
pledged  her  not  to  conform 

to  the  changing  fashions,  she  wore,  with  stately  independ¬ 
ence,  her  plain  black  silk,  with  its  full  gathered  skirt  over 
crinoline.  No  one  who  met  her  often  in  those  early  years 
could  doubt  her  devotion  to  the  “  great  idea.”  She  began 
what  became  afterward  such  a  power  —  the  printing  and  sale 

of  leaflets,  music  and  exercises  for  use  in  auxil- 

Leaflets  and  iaries,  also  the  sale  of  photoo:raphs  of  mis- 
Exercises  . 

sionanes.  Her  policy  toward  the  Society  in 
general  was  very  liberal  —  more  so  than  was  wise  in  many 
instances  ■ — ■  but  undoubtedly  she  contributed  much  to  the 
development  of  a  taste  for  missionary  literature.  She  compiled 
and  issued  a  small  book — “Historical  Sketches  of  Woman’s 
Missionary  Societies  in  America  and  England”  —  which  was 


THE 


PUBLISH  E  R  S 


33 


of  special  value  in  those  earlier  years.  In  1882  she  resigned 
her  office.  Mrs.  Daggett  died  in  Melrose,  Mass.,  October  2, 
1901. 


MISS  PAULINE  J.  WALDEN 

After  Mrs.  Daggett’s  resignation.  Miss  Pauline  J.  Walden 
was  elected  at  the  Executive  meeting  held  in  Philadelphia,  in 
October,  1882.  She  came  to  the  office  with  practical  sympathy 
for  the  Wom- 

all’s  F  o  r  e  i  g  n 
the  Work  .  .  * 

Missionary  So¬ 
ciety  and  with  full  knowledge 
of  its  working,  in  which  she 
had  already  participated.  She 
brought  to  it,  also,  an  executive 
ability  far  beyond  that  ordi¬ 
narily  bestowed  upon  women 
Financial  tangles  yielded  to 
her  patient  investigation,  and 
it  was  soon  evident  that  she  had 
“  come  to  the 

Growth  and  kingdom  for 
Prosperity  ^ 

such  a  time  as 

this.”  To  the  broadening  of 

our  publishing  interests,  the 

development  of  new  resources,  the  wise  expenditure  of 
money,  and  a  constant  effort  to  make  our  entire  output 
acceptable  and  helpful,  Miss  Walden  has  given  her  best 
years.  The  wonderful  growth  of  every  department  under  her 
care  testifies  to  a  wisely  economical  regime,  and  a  watchful 
fidelity. 


Miss  Pauline  J.  Walden 


34 


OUR 


literature 


It  is  impossible  for  one  who  has  never  been  in  the  pub¬ 
lisher  s  office,  at  3b  Bromfield  Street,  Boston,  to  have  an  idea 
of  its  detail  work.  Lost  packages  to  trace,  supply  depots  in  a 
hurry  for  lesson  helps,  orders  for  leaflets  from 

Headc^amrs  ^  thousand,  inquiries  for  missionaries’ 

addresses,  a  call  for  old  cuts,  complaints  from 
subscribers  whose  papers  are  “  strayed  or  stolen  ”,  a  call  from 
the  man  whose  wife  wants  “  a  Woinan's  Friend _ or  the  Chil¬ 

dren  s,  he  doesn’t  know  which  ” — -a  call  from  a  sister  from  the 
western  slope  who  “  must  see  the  publisher  before  she  goes 
home,”  and  another  from  the  young  woman  who  wants  a 
mileage  book  and  directions  for  making  a  trip  to  Smith’s 
Corner  up  in  New  Hampshire.  And  yet  the  atmosphere  of 
the  office  is  seiene!  But  it  is  not  strange  that,  even  with  her 
faithful  clerks.  Miss  Walden’s  nerves  have  sometimes  called 

A  Trip  Abroad  Her  first  long  vacation  was  in  1897, 

when  she  went  to  England,  Italy  and  France. 
Again,  in  ipos?  Constitutional  Publication  Committee  sur¬ 
prised  her  with  a  two  months’  leave  of  absence  and  money  to 
pay  exti  a  expenses,  thus  enabling  her  to  visit  the  Pacific  coast, 
to  meet  the  royal  women  living  there,  and  to  see  what  nature 
has  done  for  that  wonderful  section  of  our  country. 

One  paragraph  from  Miss  Walden’s  last  report  will  give  an 
idea  of  the  extent  of  our  publication  interests:  “There  have 
been,  in  the  four  periodicals,  19,365,312  pages  sent  out,  and  in 
the  Annual  Report  and  leaflets  5,662,200,  mak- 

Figures  ^  24,020,510  pages  of  literature,  an 

increase  of  2,443,312  over  last  year.  The  com¬ 
bined  circulation  of  the  four  periodicals  has  been  93,084,  an 
increase  of  430^8.  It  will  be  the  privilege  of  a  future  gener¬ 
ation,  more  calm-eyed  than  this,  to  sum  up  Miss  Walden’s 
service. 


LEAFLETS  AND  COMMITTEES 


35 


LEAFLETS  AND  LEAFLET  COMMITTEES 

“  Liue  upon  liue,  line  upon  liue ;  here  a  little  and  there  a  little.” 

The  same  guiding  Hand  which  had  led  in  the  formation 
and  development  of  the  Society  was  signally  manifest  in  the 
new  era  of  its  literature  that  dawned  in  1877.  Mrs.  J.  T. 

Gracey  and  Mrs.  D.  D.  Lore,  both  of  western 
New  York,  spent  that  winter  together,  and  dis- 


Literature  the 
Vital  Question 


An  Appeal 


Who  will  read? 


cussed  many  questions  pertaining  to  the  new 
organization.  It  seemed  to  them  that  the  most  vital  one  was 
that  connected  with  the  production  and  circulation  of  appro¬ 
priate  literature.  In  May,  1877,  the  Executive  Committee  met 
in  Minneapolis,  for  until  1882  these  meetings 
were  held  in  the  spring,  and  Mrs.  Lore  was  a 
delegate  from  the  New  York  Branch.  This  gave  her  an 
opportunity  to  ask  that  a  definite  beginning  be  made  by  the 
Society  as  siich^  to  provide  literature  to  meet  the  increasing 
demands. 

This  proposition  was  not  very  enthusiastically  received. 
Someone  said,  “  If  we  print  missionary  literature,  who  will  read 

it?”  And  others,  “There  is  no  money  to 
expend  for  it.”  The  result,  however,  was  the 
appointment  of  six  women,  representing  the  Branches,  and 
called  “a  committee  on  publication  of  leaflets,  tracts,  etc.” 

Those  elected  were:  New  England  Branch,  Mrs.  L.  H. 
Daggett;  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  Mrs.  J.  T.  Gracey; 
Northwestern,  Prof.  Sue  M.  D.  Fry;  Western,  Mrs.  Mary  C. 

Nind  ;  Cincinnati,  Mrs.  W.  G.  Williams  ;  Balti¬ 
more,  Miss  Ella  Kellogg.  Mrs.  J.  T.  Gracey 
was  made  chairman  of  this  committee.  As  no 
appropriation  had  been  made  for  their  use,  the  year  saw  no 
advance  save  in  correspondence  and  agitation. 

The  following  spring  the  Executive  Committee  met  in  Boston, 
and  there  advance  ground  was  taken.  The  former  resolution 
was  repeated,  with  the  added  duty  of  Uniform  Readings,  to  be 


The  First 
Committee 


36 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


Funds  prepared  by  the  committee,  and  each  Branch 

Secured  for  a  was  to  contribute  $2^  toward  the  expenses  of 

Beginning  this  “  new  departure.”  The  remained 

the  same,  except  that  Mrs.  James  B.  Longacre  represented  the 
Philadelphia  Branch  and  Miss  Belle  Hart  the  Baltimore.  Mrs. 
Gracey  remained  chairman. 

The  first  leaflets  issued  were  reports  of  two  Bible  women  in 
Budoan,  India — Rebecca  Stirling  Porter  and  Bernice  Steele- 

In  1879  6ie  annual  meeting  was  held  in  Chi- 

Report  of  cago,  and  Mrs.  Gracev  reported  that  178,000 

First  Leaflets  ^ 

pages  had  been  issued  and  circulated,  at  a  cost 
of  ^199.79.  Mrs.  Gracey,  Miss  Hart  of  Baltimore  and  Mrs. 
Early  of  Northwestern  Branch  were  elected  Leaflet  Committee. 

The  following  year,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  332,000  pages  were 
reported,  and  compliments  and  congratulations  were  given  Mrs. 
Gracey.  At  this  session  she  was  asked  to  write  a  history  of  our 
History  of  our  ^'‘'^G^ical  missions,  “to  be  sold  at  a  cost  of  not 
Medical  over  fifteen  cents.”  The  history  was  prepared. 

Missions  'i-g  pi-iQ-3  necessarily  raised  to  twenty- 

five  cents,  and  the  first  appropriation  of  $^00  was  made  from  the 
“  surplus  fund  of  the  F?iend^''  to  defray  the  expense  of  publish¬ 
ing.  Mrs.  Gacey  gave  the  book  to  the  Society  after  this 
expense  was  met.  As  our  Society  sent  the  first  trained  medical 
missionary  to  Asia- —  Dr.  Clara  Swain  to  India,  in  1869 — ^this 
history  was  of  great  value,  and  \vas  sold  outside  our  denomina¬ 
tion,  as  were  also  our  leaflets.  “  A  drop  of  ink  may  make  a 
million  think  ”  was  certainly  true  in  connection  with  these 
little  but  living  messages. 

In  1881  the  committee  met  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  It  was  at  this 
meeting  that  the  “surplus  fund”  was  drawn  upon  for  the 
book  noted  above,  and  also  for  ^300,  to  pay  for  leaflets.  Mrs. 

Gracey  was  continued  in  charge  of  the  work, 
in  addition  was  made  a  committee  “to 

of  Maps 

make  diligent  inquiry”  as  to  a  series  of  maps 


LEAFLETS  AND  COMMITTEES 


37 


which  were  greatly  desired.  It  was  finally  decided  to  issue  an 
outline  map  of  China,  India  and  Japan,  size,  five  by  six 
feet,  and  nearly  two  years  later  this  difficult  task  was  com¬ 
pleted  by  Mrs.  Gracey.  This  was  the  first  wall  map  issued 
by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  it  was  used  very 
extensively. 

In  1883  the  report  given  at  Des  Moines,  la.,  was  530,000 
pages  of  leaflets  issued,  with  thirty-two  varieties.  The  Publica¬ 
tion  Committee  reported  as  follows ;  “  Resolved^  That  we 

recommend  that  the  publication  of  leaflets  be 

Enlarged  continued  by  Mrs.  I.  T.  Gracey,  whose  deVo- 

Appropriation  .  . 

tion  to  the  work  and  whose  wisdom  in  selecting 

material  for  publication  demand  our  lasting  gratitude  and 

highest  commendation.”  The  sum  of  ^500  was  devoted  to  this 

work,  and  ^200  for  “such  assistance  as  the  work  demands,” 

this  money  to  be  paid  from  the  “surplus  fund  of  the  Frieiidd 

A  large  increase  in  leaflets  was  reported  at  the  Baltimore 

meeting,  in  1884,  1,620,000  pages  being  the  grand  total,  and  an 

appropriation  of  $^00  for  leaflets  and  $200  for  “  assistance  ” 

was  voted.  At  Evanston,  111.,  in  1885,  the 

number  of  pages  reported  was  1,794,000,  and 

Mrs.  Gracey’s  salary  was  increased  to  ^400. 

This  year  an  appeal  was  made  for  German  leaflets,  and  their 

publication  was  ordered,  also  leaflets  “  especially  adapted  to 

the  young.”  The  following  year  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  2,178,000 

pages  were  reported,  and  Mrs.  Gracey  was  requested  to  prepare 

supplemental  chapters,  bringing  her  book  on  medical  missions 

up  to  date. 

For  nine  years  Mrs.  Gracey  had  written  or  edited  all  the 

literature,  prepared  calendars,  historical  and  biographical 

sketches,  reports  and  booklets,  had  superin- 

A  Change  tended  their  publication,  and  sent  out  every 
Demanded  .  . 

package!  It  became  evident  that  the  growth 

of  the  work  demanded  a  change.  At  Lincoln,  Neb.,  in  1887, 


German 

Leaflets 


38 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


the  whole  matter  was  readjusted,  under  the  following  resolutions 
from  the  report  of  the  Publication  Committee. 

“  Resolved^  That  there  be  a  Literature  Committee  whose 
work  shall  be  to  edit  the  Annual  Report,  to  provide  leaflets,, 
uniform  readings,  lesson  leaves,  and  other  helps  for  monthly 
and  public  meetings,  especially  for  young  ladies’  and  juvenile 
societies,  and  to  so  far  unify  with  these  the  Heathen  Wo7nads 
Friend  as  to  secure  combined  instruction  on  definite  themes 
for  more  effective  work. 

“  Resolved^  That  this  committee  be  empowered  to  draw  on 
the  surplus  funds  of  the  Heathen  Wo7na7i's  Frie7id^  for  all 
necessary  expenses  in  prosecuting  their  work,  said  amount  not 
to  exceed  $2,000  ;  but  should  any  increased  expenditure  be 
deemed  necessary,  this  committee  shall  seek  authority  therefor 
from  the  constitutional  Publication  Committee. 

“  Resolved,  That  this  Committee  consist  of  five  persons,  and 
that  we  recommend  the  following;  Mrs.  J.  T.  Gracey,  Mrs. 
W.  F.  Warren,  Miss  P.  J.  Walden,  Mrs.  M.  B.  Hitt  and  Miss 
I.  Hart.”  Thus  was  the  Leaflet  Committee  merged  in  the 
Literature  Committee. 

Mrs.  Hitt  was  unable  to  serve,  and  Mrs.  M.  S.  Budlong,, 
appointed  in  her  place,  also  resigned.  The  four  remaining 
members  met  at  Mrs.  Warren’s  home  in  Cam- 
Organization  Bridgeport,  Mass.,  and  organized  by  electing 

Mrs.  Gracey  chairman.  Miss  Hart  secretary,  and  Miss  Walden 
treasurer. 

Be  it  known  that  up  to  this  time  the  immense  output  of 
leaflets  had  been  gratuitous ly.  In  Miss  Hart’s  first 

report  for  the  new  committee,  she  modestly  suggests ;  “  The 
conviction  prevailed  that  at  least  for  our  larger 
leaflets,  and  among  our  established  auxiliaries, 
a  small  price  should  be  paid.”  She  lays  before  the  Society 
large  plans,  involving  original  work  and  systematic  study,  with' 
a  supply  of  “helps”  that  would  surprise  a  “new  woman  ”  who' 


A  Small  Price 


LEAFLETS  AND  COMMITTEES 


39 


One  was 
taken 


has  never  studied  “  ancient  history.”  Miss  Hart  also  urges 
the  formation  of  reading  circles,  quite  similar  to  club  work, 
and  exalts  the  possibilities  of  missionary  enterprise.  The  four 
members  of  the  Literature  Committee  were  re-elected  in  1888 
and  ’89  and  ’90,  their  work  being  constantly  approved,  and 
ever  stimulating  the  intellectual  growth  of  our  constituency. 

On  September  5,  1891,  Miss  Isabel  Hart,  the  beloved  secre¬ 
tary,  was  called  to  her  crowning.  Miss  Hart’s  pen  was  dedi¬ 
cated  to  missions,  and  whatever  she  wrote  was  suggestive, 
strong,  inspiring.  At  the  meeting  in  Kansas 
City,  Mo.,  October,  1891,  the  three  remaining 
members  were  re-elected,  and  Miss  Mary  L. 
Ninde  —  Bishop  Ninde’s  daughter  —  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Knowles 
were  added.  It  was  also  voted  that,  as  it  seemed  necessary 
to  consult  more  frequently,  the  committee  should  be  “  empow¬ 
ered  to  meet  semi-annually,  if  required,  the  necessary  travelling 
expenses  to  be  met  from  the  funds  appropriated  to  the  use 
of  said  committee.”  At  this  session  Mrs.  Gracey  stated  that 
6,000  annual  reports  had  been  printed,  and  over  1,600,000 
pages  of  leaflets  issued. 

So  great  and  widespread  was  the  demand  for  literature  that 

we  And  early  in  1892  a  list  of  Branch  Depots 

Depots  of  q£  Supplies  with  their  agents.  This  method 

Supplies  ^ 

had  been  gradually  adopted,  and  at  this  time 

became  universal. 

The  first  semi-annual  meeting  was  held  in  March,  1892,  in 
New  York,  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Skidmore,  where  new  projects 
were  discussed,  among  them  a  life  membership  certificate  for 
children.  Mrs.  Knowles  took  Miss  Hart’s  place 
Mid-Year  as  secretary.  Miss  Ninde  was  not  at  this  meet- 

Meeting  ing^  but  gave  proof  of  her  ability  during  the 

year  by  contributing  two  leaflets  —  “The  Girls  of  Bulgaria 
and  How  They  Live”  and  “  If  They  Only  Knew.”  The  latter 
has  been  one  of  the  most  popular  and  useful  leaflets  ever 


40 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


issued.  At  the  meeting  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  in  October  of  that 
year,  Mrs.  Gracey  reported  an  issue  of  6,025  Annual  Reports, 
and  over  2,500,000  pages  of  miscellaneous  literature.  More 
than  ^2,000  had  been  expended  that  year  for  literature  ! 
The  same  committee  was  re-electcd  and  soon  announced  plans 
for  still  more  extensive  work. 

With  the  beginning  of  the  new  yc  ir,  however,  came  another 
blow  to  this  Literature  Committee,  for  Mrs.  Warren,  tried  and 
trusted  leader  and  friend,  suddenly  passed  into 
In  the  Shadow  Light,  leaving  her  comrades  bewildered  and 

bereaved.  There  was  no  one  to  fill  her  place,  but  to  fill  the 
Literature  Committee  the  Constitutional  Publication  Committee 
which  met  in  May,  added  the  name  of  Mrs.  O.  W.  Scott. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Branch  secretaries,  it  was  also 
decided  to  observe  the  year  1894.  appropriately,  and  the  follow¬ 
ing  action  was  taken  ;  Resolved^  That  it  be  celebrated  as  a 
silver  anniversar)^  and  that  the  Literature 

Committee  be  requested  to  make  an  announce- 
Anniversary  . 

ment  and  prepare  a  program,  to  be  ready  tor 

distribution  immediately  after  the  next  General  Executive 

meeting.”  This  program  was  acceptably  prepared  by  Mrs. 

J.  H.  Knowles,  whose  consecrated  voice  and  pen  have  been 

used  so  freely  and  successfully  for  the  advancement  of  the 

cause.  It  appeared  in  blue  and  silver,  and  was  a  fitting 

celebration  of  the  birthday  of  a  great  society.  The  Branches 

observed  this  anniversary  very  generally. 

At  the  St.  Louis  meeting  in  1895,  the  committee  “  resolved  ” 

that  Mrs.  Scott  “  be  requested  to  have  charge  of  the  literature 

for  children,”  and  this  special  department  was 

Literature  for  under  her  care  for  several  years,  during  which 
Children  -in  •  • 

time  leaflets,  exercises  and  several  series  of 

booHets  were  prepared.  Mrs.  Gracey  reported  2,214,000 

pages  of  literature  issued  in  1895. 

Much  of  the  work  of  the  Literature  Committee  was  now 


CHILDREN’S  LITERATURE 


■ 

i 


42 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


Individual 
Publications 


being  done  at  the  semi-annual  or  “  mid-year  ”  meeting,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1896  this  was  held  in  Boston,  with  Miss  Walden, 
Concerning  publisher,  who  was  also  the  treasurer  of 

this  committee.  From  her  view-point  she  saw 
that  there  was  a  growing  tendency  on  the  part 
of  the  eleven  Branches,  and  of  individuals  as  well,  to  prepare 
and  issue  missionary  literature.  She  stated  these  facts,  with 
their  important  bearing  upon  her  work  and  the  income  of  tl.e 
Society,  which  led  to  the  following  action  respecting  the 
publishing  interests  ;  “  Inasmuch  as  these  interests  are  created 
by  and  for  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  our 
Supply  Depots  should  be  avenues  through  which  the  various 
Branches  should  receive  all  literary  supplies  which  meet  their 
wants,  instead  of  giving  their  patronage  to  literature  prepared 
and  published  by  private  individuals.”  This  sentiment  was 
expressed  in  view  of  the  small  orders  received  from  many  of 
the  depots,  and  the  consequent  reduction  of  income. 

One  year  later.  May,  1897,  three  of  the  committee  met  again 
in  the  office  at  36  Bromfield  Street,  Boston.  Just  previous  to 
this,  the  Constitutional  Publication  Committee,  composed  of 
the  Branch  secretaries,  had  held  their  annual 

1897 

meeting  in  Cincinnati.  To  them  Miss  Walden 
had  sent  a  long  letter  explaining  the  financial  conditions  affect¬ 
ing  the  literature,  and  asking  instructions,  and  also  presenting 
her  views  as  to  what  ought  to  be  done.  The  letter  received 
in  response  did  not  give  definite  advice  or  instruction,  and 
after  careful  consideration,  the  three  members  present  — 
Mrs.  Gracey,  Miss  Walden  and  Mrs.  Scott  —  reached  the 
following  conclusion  and  action  as  recorded  in  the  minutes : 

“  Both  this  year  and  last,  the  Literature  Com¬ 
mittee  has  felt  restricted  and  embarrassed  by 
the  small  number  attending  its  mid-year  meet¬ 
ing,  at  which  time  its  work  for  the  year  is  done,  except  such 
small  matters  as  can  be  settled  by  correspondence.  It  has 


A  Definite 
Statement 


LEAFLETS  AND  COMMITTEES 


43 


Definite 

Action 


also  looked  out  over  the  wide  home  field  and  noted  its  increas¬ 
ing  needs,  and  the  growing  desire  for  missionary  intelligence, 
especially  among  young  people.  It  has  grown  to  feel  the 
absolute  necessity  of  a  larger  representation,  and  to  believe 
that  if  every  section  could  be  represented  in  this  committee^ 
the  demand  for  separate  publishing  interests  in  each  Branch 
would  be  greatly  lessened.” 

This  thought  was  embodied  in  the  letter  written  by  the 
publisher  to  the  Constitutional  Committee,  and  so  commended 
itself  to  the  Literature  Committee  as  to  form  a  central  point 
around  which  discussion  finally  crystallized. 
As  a  result  it  was  voted  to  present  the  follow¬ 
ing  to  the  Executive  Committee  at  its  next 
session:  “  Whereas^  The  Literature  Committee,  in  its  mid-year 
meeting,  deplored  the  absence  of  two  of  its  members  ;  and. 
Whereas^  conditions  are  such  as  to  make  a  full  attendance  as 
uncertain  in  the  future  as  in  the  past ;  and.  Whereas^  the 
growing  importance  of  this  department  cf  our  work  demands 
the  best  thought  of  a  permanent  committee  which  shall  fairly 
represent  our  entire  constituency;  therefore.  Resolved^  That 
we,  members  of  the  Literature  Committee,  respectfully  ask  the 
Executive  Committee  to  consider  the  present 
needs  of  our  Society,  and  to  authorize  the 
appointment,  by  each  Branch,  of  a  woman  who 
shall  represent  its  interests  upon  this  committee.  Also, 
Resolved^  That  the  expense  of  this  representative  to  the  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  committee  be  paid  by  her  Branch,  and  that  said 
meeting  should  be  held  annually  in  connection  with  this 
Executive  body.”  The  acting  committee  fully  realized  that 
they  could  not  personally  form  a  part  of  this  new  representa¬ 
tion,  but  felt  that  they  were  planning  for  a  wider  and  more 
glorious  work. 

The  Executive  session  of  that  year  was  held  in  Denver, 
beginning  October  28th,  and  the  resolution  was  presented  in 


Resolutions 
of  1897 


44 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


due  time,  and  referred  to  the  Publication  Committee,  which 
presented  the  following  as  its  method  of 
Meetin^'^^^  settling  the  great  question  :  “  We  recommend 

the  creation  of  an  Advisory  Board,  composed 
of  one  member  elected  by  each  Branch,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
to  assist  the  Literature  Committee,  by  correspondence,  by  sug¬ 
gestions,  by  presenting  the  needs  of  their  respective  Branches, 
and  in  any  way  said  committee  may  desire.”  It  was  also 
advised  that  all  manuscript  should  come  through  this  Board, 
and  be  approved  by  the  entire  Literature  Committee. 

Miss  Mary  L.  Ninde  had  been  unable  to  attend  the  meetings 
of  the  Literature  Committee,  and  this  year  resigned.  Mrs. 
R.  H.  Pooley  of  Rockford,  Ill.,  was  elected  in  her  place. 

At  this  Executive  meeting  it  was  voted  to  introduce  a 
reading  course  for  auxiliaries,  and  there  was  a  call  for  addi¬ 
tional  literature  for  young  people  and  children.  The  next 
New  York  mid-year  meeting  was  held  in  New  York,  Jan- 
u  iry,  1898,  and  the  entire  Literature  Commit¬ 
tee  was  present.  There  were  also  in  the  city 
Mrs.  Stevens  of  the  Baltimore  Branch,  Mrs.  Keen  of  the  Phila¬ 
delphia  Branch,  Mrs.  Skidmore  of  the  New  York  Branch,  and 
Miss  Hodgkins,  editor  of  the  Friend,  —  all  of  whom  favored 
the  c.>mmittee  with  their  presence  and  advice  atone  or  more 
sessions.  The  question  which  interested  all  was  the  previously 
much  discussed  one  of  Branch  representation  in  the  Literature 
Committee. 


Mid-Year 

Meeting 


Miss  Walden  was  so  fully  convinced  that  no  other  arrange¬ 
ment  could  be  satisfactory  that  she  presented  the  plan  even 
more  clearly  than  before,  and  a  resolution  very  similar  to  that 
Plan  of  presented  the  previous  year  was  adopted,  with 

Representation  the  additional  recommendation  that  the  repre- 

sentative  might  be  a  delegate  if  her  Branch  so 
desired.  An  excellent  reading  course  was  arranged  for  three 
years,  latest  and  best  books  being  chosen.  It  was  also 


LEAFLETS  AND  COMMITTEES 


45 


Reading 

Course 


decided  to  issue  a  certificate  for  those  who  finished  the  course. 
Leaflet  literature  was  discussed,  a  series  of 
booklets  (later  known  as  the  Flag  Series) 
on  mission  countries  was  ordered,  a  thank- 
offering  service  projected,  and  it  was  voted  that  Mrs.  Gracey 
continue  her  series  of  historical  leaflets.  A  handbook  for 
workers  was  also  desired,  and  “  many  women  of  many  minds 
were  duly  considered  through  their  correspondence. 


n 


THE  FLAG  SERIES 


At  the  annual  Executive  meeting  in  October  it  was  resolved 
that  each  Branch  elect  a  Secretary  of  Literature  to  present  the 
needs  of  her  constituency,  and  also  that  “  one  of  the  two  dele¬ 
gates  from  each  Branch  be  appointed  on  the 
Committee  for  two  years,  the  term 
of  delegates  for  the  first  six  Branches  expiring 


46 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


.the  odd  years,  and  the  last  five  in  the  even  years.”  The  same 
Literature  Committee  was  re-elected.  In  February,  1899, 
Mid- Year  Literature  Committee,  with  the  exception  of 

Meeting  again  Mrs.  Pooley,  met  with  Mrs.  Knowles,  at  the 
in  New  York  home  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Reid  in  New  York  City. 
Twentieth  Century  Thank-Offering  literature,  reading  course, 
certificates,  proofs  of  the  handbook,  manuscripts  of  five 
countries  in  the  Flag  Series,  historical  leaflets,  lesson  topics, 
etc.,  were  all  discussed,  or  examined,  or  projected. 

It  was  also  voted  to  issue  a  large  Prayer 
Calendar  for  1900,  following  the  suggestion  of 
Mrs.  Crandon  of  the  Northwestern  Branch. 

The  relation  of  the  literature  to  the  Executive  body  was 
again  freely  discussed,  the  publisher  still  urging  and  the  other 
members  warmly  supporting  full  Branch  representation. 

At  the  thirtieth  annual  meeting,  Mrs.  Gracey  reported  that 
3,770,000  pages  had  been  issued  from  the  publication  office. 

Many  of  the  booklets  and  leaflets  were  new? 
others  were  reprints  by  necessity.  General 


Prayer 

Calendar 


At  Cleveland 
in  1899 


Mid-Year 
Meeting,  1900 


interest  centred  in  the  Prayer  Calendar,  which 
was  very  neatly  executed,  and  filled  with  valuable  statistics, 
quotations,  texts,  and  several  cuts.  It  was  highly  approved. 

Three  of  the  committee  —  Mrs.  Gracey,  Miss  Walden  and 
Mrs.  Knowles  —  met  with  Mrs.  Knowles  in  New  York.  The 
usual  demand  came  for  fresh,  “  taking”  liter¬ 
ature  of  all  descriptions,  and  all  these  requests 
were  considered  and  met  as  far  as  possible. 
The  Calendar  for  1901  was  planned  and  arrangements  made 
for  editorial  work  by  the  several  Branches.  Due  attention  was 
given  to  lesson  topics,  reading  course  and  young  people’s  and 
children’s  literature. 

In  April,  1900,  four  of  the  Committee —  Mrs.  Gracey,  Miss 
Walden,  Mrs.  Knowles  and  Mrs.  Scott- — -were  again  in  New 
York,  privileged  to  attend  the  wonderful  Ecumenical  Confer- 


LEAFLETS  AND  COMMITTEES 


47 


Ecumenical  which,  in  its  ten  days’  session,  did  so 

Conference  much  to  advance  missionary  interests  in  this 

in  New  York  country,  and,  through  delegates,  the  entire 
Christian  world.  Two  informal  meetings  were  held  for  the 
transaction  of  business.  The  members  became  greatly  inter¬ 
ested  in  the  scheme  for  the  United  Study  of  Missions, 
discussed  at  the  Woman’s  Meeting  on  Literature  during  this 
Conference,  and  for  which  a  committee  of  five  representative 
women  was  appointed,  April  30,  Mrs.  Gracey  being  one. 

In  October,  1900,  the  Executive  Committee  met  in  Worces¬ 
ter,  Mass.  Mrs.  Gracey  at  this  time  presented  facts  concern¬ 
ing  the  United  Study  which  looked  toward  an  uplift  for  all 
literature  con- 

Executive  _ 

Meeting  at  nected  with  for- 

Worcester  eign  missions, 

and  the  Committee  heartily 
approved  the  plan  formulated 
by  those  appointed  at  the  Ecu¬ 
menical  Conference.  The  usual 
work  for  the  coming  year  was 
under  discussion,  but  before  it 
was  fully  outlined,  action  was 
taken  which  changed  the  cur¬ 
rent  of  events.  The  members 
of  the  Execu- 

A  New  tive,  feeling  that 

Committee  ,  ,  , 

they  could  not 

grant  the  publisher’s  appeal  for 

Branch  representation,  decided 

to  divide  the  territory  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  into  three  sections,  and  appoint  a  woman  to  care  for 
each.  The  new  Literature  Committee  was  as  follows:  From 
the  Eastern  section,  Mrs.  A.  H.  Eaton,  Catonsville,  Md. ;  from 
the  Central,  Mrs.  R.  H.  Pooley,  Rockford,  Ill.  ;  from  the 
Western,  Miss  Elizabeth  Pearson,  Des  Moines,  la. 


Mr.s.  R.  H.  Pooley 


48 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


Up  to  this  point,  our  sketch,  gathered  from  the  records  of 
the  past,  covers  thirty  years.  It  began  when  free  literature 
was  indispensable  in  developing  a  new  and  unpopular  move¬ 
ment.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  features  in  its  records  is 
the  fact  that  the  Friend  was  enabled  to  earn,  and  has  actually 
paid,  in  round  numbers,  for  this  supply  of  missionary  literature, 
more  than  ^25,000.  Only  a  combination  of  industry,  economy 
and  faithfulness  on  the  part  of  publisher  and  subscribers  has 
made  this  possible.  Mrs.  Gracey — the  mother,  in  a  sense,  of 
the  literature  department,  and  its  chairman  for  many  years  — 
must  be  remembered  as  a  moving  spirit  in  its  progressive 
development.  “’Tis  much  to  sow  that  which  another 
reapeth.” 

The  new  committee,  with  Mrs.  Pooley  as  chairman,  entered 
upon  its  duties  with  great  enthusiasm.  The  attention  of  the 
Branches  had  at  last  been  won  by  repeated 
.  efforts,  and  they  hailed  loyally  the  plan  which 

had  been  formulated  at  Worcester.  Each 
Branch  elected  its  secretary  of  literature,  whose  duties  were 
fully  outlined  at  the  beginning  of  the  year. 

Mrs.  Pooley’s  business  talent  soon  manifested  itself  in  large 
plans  for  the  year’s  output.  Her  report,  given  at  the  Execu¬ 
tive  in  1901,  was  an  elaborate  resiune  of  detail  work.  Among 
the  new  features  were  an  enumeration  of  the 

Report  at  duties  of  Branch  secretaries  of  literature,  a 

Philadelphia  ,  .  ^  ’ 

summary  of  Branch  publications,  sales  at 

Depots  of  Supplies  and  at  conventions,  number  of  mite  boxes 
issued,  and  a  list  of  libraries  in  various  cities  which  make  a 
specialty  of  missionary  literature.  Mrs.  Pooley’s  presentation 
of  facts  to  the  Branch  secretaries  and  to  the  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee  as  a  whole,  won  more  than  the  usual  attention. 

Miss  Pearson’s  term  of  one  year  had  expired,  and  she 
declined  a  re-election  because  of  her  duties  as  Branch  presi¬ 
dent.  Mrs.  Eaton  resigned,  thus  leaving  two  vacancies,  which 


LEAFLETS  AND  COMMITTEES 


49 


New 

Members 


A  Successful 
Year 


were  filled  by  the  election  of  Mrs.  C.  F.  Wilder 
of  Manhattan,  Kansas,  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Holt 
of  Boston.  Much  of  the  work  was  necessarily 
done  by  correspondence,  and  the  change  in  personnel  naturally 
called  for  slight  readjustments,  but  when  the  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee  met  a  year  later  in  Minneapolis,  Mrs.  Pooley  reported  a 
“year  of  remarkable  success.” 

The  great  impetus  given  to  our  foreign  missionary  societies 
by  the  United  Study  was  seen  in  the  sales  of  Via  CJu'isti 
and  L^lx  Christie  with  a  multitude  of  helps  of 
various  kinds.  After  five  years  of  slow  devel¬ 
opment,  the  reading  course  for  1902  had  been 
completed  by  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  persons.  Including 
German  leaflets,  Japan  leaflets  and  cards,  and  Branch  issues, 
a  total  of  5,712,840  pages  of  leaflets  was  reported. 

At  this  session  of  the  Executive,  a  large  display  of  programs 
and  literature  from  India,  China  and  Japan,  added  to  the  inter¬ 
est  of  the  usual  literature  exhibit.  What  the  ear  did  not  hear 
concerning  this  helpful  and  suggestive  display, 
the  eye  was  compelled  to  see,  and  what 
appeared  to  some  the  dawn  of  a  new  era  was 
largely  due  to  the  methods  of  the  committee  in  placing  the 
productions  of  the  Society  before  the  public  in  an  attractive 
way. 

Miss  Mary  E.  Holt,  who  represented  the  Eastern  division  of 
the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  had  been  elected 
corresponding  secretary  of  the  New  England  Branch,  and 
therefore  resigned  from  the  Literature  Commit¬ 
tee.  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Northup  of  Waltham, 
Mass.,  was  elected  in  her  place.  The  follow- 
ing  year,  1903,  brought  sickness  and  bereavement  to  the  home 
of  the  chairman,  and  her  plans  for  new  projects  were  not  fully 
developed,  but  when  the  harvest  records  were  again  made  up 
for  the  Executive  session  in  Baltimore,  the  summary  was  most 


Helps 

Manifold 


Another 

Change 


50 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


encouraging.  Again,  large  sales  at  Depots  of 

The  Baltimore  Supplies  and  Branch  conventions  were  reported, 
Meeting  ^  ^ 

together  with  an  all-embracing  review  of  litera¬ 
ture  issued  by  all  departments 
of  the  Society.  Again  a  won¬ 
derfully  attractive  exhibit  was 
arranged  by  the  committee, 
most  valuable  for  its  awak¬ 
ening  and  educative  possi¬ 
bilities. 

Mrs.  Pooley’s  term  of  ser¬ 
vice  —  three  years  —  having 
expired,  and  her  health  and 
duties  as  a 

Change  in  the  pastor’s  wife 
Committee  .  ,  .  , 

forbidding  re- 

election,  her  place  as  repre¬ 
sentative  of  the  Central  section 
was  filled  by  the  election  of 
Mrs.  William  A.  Gamble  of 
Cincinnati.  The  convention  expressed  its  appreciation  of  her 
faithful  work  by  a  rising  vote  of  thanks.  The  committee,  now 
consisting  of  Mrs.  Wilder,  Miss  Norlhup  and  Mrs.  Gamble, 
elected  Miss  Northup  chairman. 


Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Northup 


MISCELLANEOUS  LITERATURE. 

There  has  been  an  immense  amount  of  miscellaneous  litera¬ 
ture  used  by  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  which 
can  hardly  be  classified,  and  yet  which  deserves  mention.  An 
example  is  found  in  the  various  annual  reports. 
That  issued  after  Executive  meetings,  to  which 
reference  has  already  been  made,  is  a  veritable 


The  Annual 
Report 


§^iEART'- 

ro-HEART 

Missionary 

/rayer 

fAI,..END\R 


nf  fXiitiw 


rt'  <ke:<3K}x^t 


i  >HK3CaSfc.  WtoftJi. 


A  DISPLAY 


W.  F.  M.  S. 


OF 


PUBLICATIONS 


52 


OUR 


LITERATURE 


Branch 

Reports 


Branch 

Quarterlies 


compendium  of  foreign  and  home  statistics,  information  and 
tabulated  facts.  Reading  it  —  and  it  is  an  entertaining  pam¬ 
phlet  —  brings  one  into  touch  with  the  entire  work  of  the 
Society.  And  how  one’s  vision  broadens  as  it  takes  in  the 
wide  sweep ! 

There  are  also  Branch  reports  —  eleven  of  them — devoted 
to  the  special  interests  of  each  Branch  terri¬ 
tory,  missionaries,  special  work  and  statistics. 
Many  thousands  of  these  are  scattered  broad¬ 
cast  each  twelvemonth.  Another  enterprise  is  that  of  issuing 
Branch  Quarterlies.  Whether  these  are  separate  publications, 
or,  better  still,  found  as  a  part  of  the  Friertd^ 
they  are  well  edited  and  full  of  bright  “  news 
from  our  own.”  Beside  these,  the  Branches 
have  published  leaflets,  booklets,  programs,  etc.,  for  special 
occasions  and  interests. 

We  must  not  fail  to  mention  still  further  in  this  connection  a 
class  of  literature  which  sprang  up  like  a  wild  flower  from  Mrs. 
Lucie  F.  Harrison’s  “happy  thought.”  Little  Light  Bearer 
membership  cards, 

Light  souvenirs,  leaflets,  etc., 

Bearers  were  so  attractive  that 

they  soon  made  their  way  everywhere, 
even  far  outside  our  own  Society 
limits.  For  some  years  Mrs.  Harrison 
published  these  lovely  things,  but  in 
1902,  when  she  was  made  General 
Secretary  of  Children’s  Work,  she 
loyally  transferred  them  to  the  pub¬ 
lisher,  feeling  that  there  should  not 
be  separate  publishing  interests.  Mrs. 

Harrison  has  also  written  several 

popular  dialogues  and  exercises,  among  which  we  note  “  How 
some  Dollies  came  to  go  as  Missionaries,”  “  The  Mission 


Mrs.  Lucie  F.  Harrison 


MISCELLANEOUS 


LITERATURE 


53 


Standard 

Bearers 


Band  of  Averageville,”  “  Missionary  Camp  Fire,”  “Wen  Shun 
Exercise  and  Motion  Song,”  etc. 

Miss  Clara  Cushman,  who  was  for  eight  years  an  efficient 
missionary  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  in 
China,  has  also  published  many  leaflets  and  booklets  which 
have  been  widely  circulated  and  as  widely  read. 
Her  style  is  both  humorous  and  pathetic,  and 
her  stories  of  Chinese  life  and  character,  which 
she  seems  to  understand  intuitively, 
are  deservedly  popular.  Miss  Cush¬ 
man  formulated  a  plan  for  the  unifica¬ 
tion  of  young  people’s  work,  which 
she  presented  to  the  Woman’s  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  in  1900.  It  has 
been  generally  adopted  as  has  the 
name  Standard  Bearers,  which  she 
selected.  In  1903,  owing  to  the 
resignation  of  Miss  Mary  L.  Ninde, 
because  of  illness.  Miss  Cushman  was 
elected  General  Superintendent  of 
this  department. 

Many  historical  sketches  of  our  Society  have  been  written 
for  various  publications,  and  also  two  books.  The  first  history 
was  prepared  by  Mrs.  Mary  Sparkes  Wheeler  at  the  end  of  the 
,  first  ten  years,  and  was  called  “  First  Decade 

and  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of 

Histories  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  Sketches 

of  its  Missionaries.”  The  second  was  written  by  Miss 
Frances  J.  Baker,  under  the  title,  “  The  Story  of  the  Woman’s 
I'oreign  Missionary  Society  from  1869  to  1895.”  Miss  Baker 
has  also  written  a  number  of  acceptable  leaflets,  among  them 
being  the  bright  biographical  sketches  of  our  missionaries, 
now  in  progress,  and  known  as  the  “  Young  Woman’s  Series”. 
Her  booklet,  “First  Women  Physicians  to  the  Orient”,  is  a 


Miss  Clara  Cushman 


54 


O  U  R 


L  I  T  E  R  A  T  U  R  E 


Striking  illustration  of  its  author’s  all-round  missionary  knowl¬ 
edge.  And  what  shall  we  say  of  reports  and  items  filling 
many  columns  in  various  church  papers  generously  open  to 
our  workers?  Surely  if  “  the  people  perish  for  lack  of  knowl¬ 
edge  ”  it  is  their  own  fault  and  misfortune. 

As  the  Christian  church  faces  with  clearer  vision  its  great, 
aggressive  work  —  the  evangelization  of  Christless  nations  — 
it  appreciates  more  fully  the  power  of  the  press,  and  measures 
up  to  its  added  opportunity.  And  this  ministry  of  inspired  type 
will  not  cease  until  humanity  everywhere,  “  with  God’s  image 
stamped  upon  it  and  God’s  kindling  breath  within,”  has  heard 
or  read  of  the  great  salvation. 


PRESS  OF 

R  H.  BLODGETT  &  CO. 
30  BROMFIELD  STREET 
BOSTON 


